New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP042’

ABSTRACT

An  Impatiens  plant particularly distinguished by having light coral-pink flowers, and green leaves, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Impatiens hybrida hort.

Variety denomination: ‘SAKIMP042’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant, botanically known as Impatiens hybrida hort, and referred to by the variety name ‘SAKIMP042’. The present Impatiens variety originated in Misato, Japan from an interspecific hybridization between the proprietary female Impatiens variety ‘NE-5331’ (unpatented) having salmon-orange flowers and the proprietary male Impatiens variety ‘NJ-1174A’ (unpatented) having lilac-colored flowers.

In September 2011, ‘NE-5331’ and ‘NJ-1174A’ were crossed and a population of F1 plants were created. The F1 plants were evaluated in a field in Misato, Japan in an open-field trial. The criteria for plant selection included compact growth habit, vigorous root system, and good flowering ability. At the completion of the trial, a single selection was made based on the above criteria and was given the experimental name ‘M2013-425’. From June to August 2013, ‘M2013-425’ was evaluated in an open-field trial in Misato, Japan. Shoot-tip cuttings of the variety were shipped to Salinas, Calif., where the plants were propagated and evaluated for stability of traits. ‘M2013-425’ was subsequently named ‘SAKIMP042’. ‘SAKIMP042’ was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via vegetative shoot-tip cuttings in Salinas, Calif.

SUMMARY

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishing characteristics of this new variety when grown under normal horticultural practices in Salinas, Calif.

-   -   1. Light coral-pink flowers; and     -   2. Green leaves.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This Impatiens plant is illustrated by the accompanying photographs which show the plant's overall plant habit including form, foliage, and flowers. The photographs are of a plant grown in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. The colors shown are as true as can be reasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit of the plant grown in a pot.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of the mature inflorescence of the plant.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of ‘SAKIMP042’. Data was obtained from plants grown about 3-months from propagation by terminal cuttings in Salinas, Calif. under greenhouse conditions. Color references are to The Royal Horticultural Society of London colour chart (R.H.S.), 4^(th) edition (2001). Anatomic labels are from The Cambridge Illustrated Glossary of Botanical Terms, by M. Hickey and C. King, Cambridge University Press.

-   Classification:     -   -   Family.—Balsaminaceae.         -   Botanical.—Impatiens hybrida hort.         -   Common.—Impatiens.         -   Designation.—‘SAKIMP042’. -   Growth:     -   -   Environmental conditions for plant growth.—The terminal 1.0             to 1.5 inches of an actively growing stem was excised. The             vegetative cuttings were propagated for five to six weeks.             The base of the cuttings were dipped for 1 to 2 seconds in a             1:9 solution of DIP 'N GROW (1 solution: 9 water) root             inducing solution immediately prior to sticking into the             cell trays. Cuttings were stuck into plastic cell trays             having 98 cells, and containing a moistened peat moss-based             growing medium. The cuttings were misted with water from             overhead for 10 seconds every 30 minutes until sufficient             roots were formed. Rooted cuttings were transplanted and             grown in 20 cm diameter plastic pots in a glass greenhouse             located in Salinas, Calif. Pots contained a peat moss-based             growing medium. Soluble fertilizer containing 20% nitrogen,             10% phosphorus and 20% potassium was applied once a day or             every other day by overhead irrigation. Plants were             fertilized every 2-3 days, 2 times in consecutive             applications and then given one clear water application.             Pots were top-dressed with a dry, slow release fertilizer             containing 20% nitrogen, 10% phosphorus and 18% potassium.             The typical average air temperature was 24° C. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety ‘NE-5331’             (unpatented).         -   Male parent.—The proprietary Impatiens variety ‘NJ-1174A’             (unpatented). -   Plant description:     -   -   Habit.—Compact.         -   Life cycle.—Annual.         -   Height.—18.5 cm from soil line to the top of the foliage.         -   Spread.—43.0 cm.         -   Number of branches per plant.—6 total with 3 main branches.         -   Length of branches.—5.0 mm from the soil line to the first             node, 4.5 cm total.         -   Diameter of branches.—1.3 cm for the main branch and 1.0 cm             for the other secondary branches.         -   Color of branches.—Closet to but darker than RHS 183A             (Greyed-purple).         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—About 4 weeks.         -   Time to bloom from propagation.—6 to 8 weeks.         -   Flowering requirements.—Will flower so long as temperature             is above 5° C.         -   Temperature tolerances.—Plants observed to continue             flowering in a temperature range of 5° C. to 36° C. -   Stems:     -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 183A (Greyed-purple).         -   Anthocyanin color.—RHS 183A (Greyed-purple).         -   Pubescence.—Very slight.         -   Pubescence color.—RHS 155A (White).         -   Description.—Strong; circular in cross-section; shiny, with             very slight pubescence.         -   Length.—4.0 cm to 4.5 cm from the first node to the second             node; 9.0 cm to 12.5 cm total.         -   Diameter.—5.0 mm to 8.0 mm.         -   Internode length.—4.5 cm. -   Leaves:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled with up to 5 leaves per node, opposite             if only two leaves at one node.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate, curled.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Shortly attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate.         -   Surface appearance.—Dull, waxy.         -   Length.—8.6 cm.         -   Width.—3.3 cm.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Closest to but darker than RHS 147A             (Yellow-green). Lower surface: Closest to but darker than             RHS 148B (Yellow-green).         -   Variegation.—Absent.         -   Fragrance.—Absent.         -   Pubescence.—Absent.         -   Petiole.—Length: 9.0 mm. Diameter: 2.0 mm. Color: Closest to             RHS 145C (Yellow-green). Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Venation             pattern: Pinnate. Venation color: Upper surface: Closest to             RHS 183A (Greyed-purple). Lower surface: Closest to RHS 183D             (Greyed-purple). -   Flower buds:     -   -   Surface texture.—Glabrous.         -   Length.—2.2 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Deltoid; longitudinal in cross-section.         -   Color.—Closest to RHS 52B (Red) with RHS 183A             (Greyed-purple) at the edge. -   Flowers:     -   -   Inflorescence type.—Single flower with spur.         -   Number of flowers per node.—1 to 3 in bloom at one time;             about 10 flower buds.         -   Number of flowers per plant.—Approximately 65 in bloom.         -   Lastingness of individual blooms on the plants.—14 days. -   Corolla:     -   -   Shape.—Roughly circular with 5 radial petals.         -   Diameter.—6.8 cm.         -   Depth.—1.0 cm.         -   Petals.—Texture (both surfaces): Glabrous. Length: 3.8 cm.             Width: 4.0 cm. Shape: Obcordate. Apex: Emarginate (cleaved).             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Color: Upper surface:             Closest to but brighter than RHS 52A (Red). Lower surface:             Closest to RHS 58D (Red-purple). Eye zone: Closest to but             brighter than RHS 60A (Red-purple). -   Calyx:     -   -   Sepal shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Sepal apex.—Caudate.         -   Sepal base.—Subcordate.         -   Sepal margin.—Entire.         -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Glabrous.         -   Sepal number per flower.—2.         -   Sepal color.—Upper surface: RHS 183A (Greyed-purple) with             very slight RHS 142B (Green). Lower surface: Closest to RHS             142B (Green).         -   Sepal length.—1.5 cm.         -   Sepal diameter.—7.0 mm. -   Spur:     -   -   Color.—Closest to RHS 60B (Red-purple) with RHS N77A             (Purple) at the tip; RHS 62D (Red-purple) at the base with             slight RHS 147B (Yellow-green) at the tip of the base.         -   Shape.—Tubular and curved downward.         -   Length.—6.7 cm.         -   Diameter.—1.0 mm to 2.0 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Length.—4.8 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 183B (Greyed-purple).         -   Diameter.—2.0 mm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Stamens.—Form: Fused, split into 4 lobes. Number per             flower: 5. Filament form: Free. Anther length: 6.0 mm.             Anther color: Closest to RHS 58A but slightly transparent.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen description: Powdery. Pollen             color: RHS 155B (White).         -   Pistil.—Number per flower: 1. Stigma color: RHS 156B             (Greyed-white). Style color: RHS N77A (Purple) with RHS 144A             (Yellow-green). Ovary arrangement: Parietal. Ovary interior             color: RHS 145B (Yellow-green).         -   Seed production.—Not observed. -   Disease and insect resistance: No particular resistance or     susceptibility observed.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL LINES AND KNOWN VARIETY

‘SAKIMP042’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens having a compact growth habit, strong root system, and good flowering ability. ‘SAKIMP042’ is distinguished from its parents as shown in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Comparison with Parental Lines Female Parent Male Parent Characteristic ‘SAKIMP042’ ‘NE-5331’ ‘NJ-1174A’ Flower color Coral-pink Salmon-orange Lilac Plant growth habit Compact Mounding Mounding

‘SAKIMP042’ is a new and unique variety of Impatiens having a compact growth habit, strong root system, and good flowering ability. When ‘SAKIMP042’ is compared to the commercial Impatiens variety ‘SAKIMP013’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,957), the following differences as described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Comparison with Similar Variety Characteristic ‘SAKIMP042’ ‘SAKIMP013’ Petal color, Closest to but brighter than RHS RHS 65C upper surface 52A (Red) (Red-purple) Petal color, Closest to RHS 58D (Red-purple) RHS 65C lower surface (Red-purple) Spur color Closest to RHS 60B (Red-purple) RHS 65D with RHS N77A (Purple) at the tip; (Red-purple) Also RHS 62D at the base with a slight RHS 147B (Yellow-green) at the tip of the base 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of New Guinea Impatiens plant named ‘SAKIMP042’ as described and illustrated herein. 